Lagos warns against consuming groundnut oil from fallen tanker

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has cautioned residents against using groundnut oil that spilled from a ruptured tanker carrying 33,000 litres of the product. General Manager and CEO of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, issued the warning in a statement on Thursday, warning people from collecting, purchasing or consuming the contaminated oil.

Solebo explained that the oil, which spread onto a public road, could have been exposed to dirt, dust, harmful microorganisms, fuel, and other hazardous substances, making it unsafe for human consumption. He pointed out that even if the oil looked clean, its safety could not be verified without proper testing, and warned that consuming contaminated edible oil could result in foodborne illnesses and other health issues, depending on the severity of the contamination.

Solebo advised residents to stick to healthy eating habits, and cautioned traders and distributors from selling the spilt oil without proper safety checks and approval from relevant authorities. He encouraged residents to report any suspicious food products to LASCOPA via their social media channels, email, or toll-free hotline.